About WESA

The West-End Slo-Pitch Association was started in 1978 when gay and lesbian sports minded, fun-loving people gathered on Sunday afternoons at Lord Roberts School playground. 2017 will be our 39th Season of
playing with balls!

The league has continued to grow over the years. For 2017 WESA will field 18 teams, over 250 members, and more than 20 business sponsors.

WESA organizes not only softball games but many social events for the membership and gay community.

Players register as individual or with a friend in early February each year. Teams are formed by a universal player draft held in March. Everyone who joins WESA is drafted by a team and is guaranteed to play. This makes WESA fresh and fun every year. Most games are played at Strathcona Park, with the occasional game held in Stanley Park. The playing season runs from the middle of April to the end of July each
summer.

We offer two divisions of athletic competition: D division is suited for the developing or recreational player, and, C division is suited for experienced softball players looking for a more efficient game.

Since 2008, WESA has been part of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance. NAGAAA organizes the Gay Softball World Series each year and brings together 46 participating cities and over 5,000 participants and fans.

Playing softball is a great way to get out and enjoy the summer in a fun filled way. You will meet some new friends and play softball.

WESA's History

1978

The West-End Slo-Pitch Association,WESA, was formerly called the West-End Softball Association and was started when gay and lesbian sports minded, fun-loving people gathered on Sunday afternoons at Lord Roberts School playground to engage in some recreational softball.

Many folks who came out in those days were members of the Dogwood Monarchist Society. As more interested people joined in, a loosely structured organization of teams took shape.

1979

An executive (Commission) was formed and six gay-business sponsored teams took to the field. WESA's "original six" teams were The Castle, Neighbours, The Gandydancer, The Playpen Central, The Luv Affair and The Shaggy Horse.

1998

WESA celebrated it's 20th anniversary season making it the oldest gay and lesbian sports organization in Vancouver. WESA has always welcomed Friends of lesbians and gays to join with us in playing slo-pitch softball or joining in our many social activities throughout the season.

As well, WESA expand from 10 to 12 teams with a membership in excess of 155, with a wide cross-section of team sponsors.

2004

WESA created two divisions, creating a C Division and D Division.

The C Division was designed for players with a more competitive style of game play and the D Division for players looking for a more recreational feel to the game.